England skipper Sean O’Loughlin wants coach Wayne Bennett to stay
Wigan star also hopes national team is pushed as the lead brand in rugby league, with more games
SEAN O’Loughlin hopes Wayne Bennett stays on as England coach and that rugby league makes the national side its priority – while insisting he will never call time on his international career.
The Australian is currently weighing up whether to remain as boss after guiding the country to their near miss in last year’s World Cup
final.
If a proposed Test match against New Zealand in Denver, Colorado on June 23 comes off, there is more of a chance of the man known as Supercoach renewing his deal.
And national skipper O’Loughlin would be delighted if Bennett says yes and would put his hand up to play for a team that should be developed as the sports’ flagbearer with more games worked in.
The Wigan ace said: “Wayne’s impact was undeniable and he didn’t disappoint at the World Cup. I don’t know for definite if he is going to stay, but I’d like to see him to.
“Look at rugby union, they’re the flip to ours where a lot of money is generated through England. Here, it’s more the clubs who are pushing
things.
“There’s a balance with clubs wanting to build their brand but I definitely think the England brand has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years.
“But the more we can play, especially against the top sides, the better. I’d definitely like to see one kid-season game, possibly two.
“Because I was in a different country, it’s hard to grasp the impact it had made here but I found out afterwards.
“I saw on Twitter the support it generated. We didn’t get the win but we still feel we’ve achieved a lot in terms of representing our sport.
“I don’t think I’d ever retire. If they want me to play, I’ll always put my hand up but I’d also understand if they look at people who’ll be in that role for the next five or 10 years.
“It’s down to whoever picks. If they want me to play, I’d always do that but I’d also understand if they didn’t because they want succession.”
Loose forward O’Loughlin, 35, missed England’s 6-0 defeat to Australia in Brisbane with a thigh injury and he has revealed that despite apparent attempts to get him fit, he always knew he would miss out.
He added to SunSport: “I tried to do a bit in the week to get it right but I knew as soon as I did it really, it was a three to four week injury.
“The physios said they’d chuck everything at it but I knew it wasn’t right.”
